Compositions of plant carbohydrates as dietary supplements

ABSTRACT

Compositions of plant carbohydrates for dietary supplements and nutritional support for promotion and maintenance of good health. Defined nutritionally effective amounts of one to eleven essential saccharides, glyconutrients, are used in various inventive compositions as dietary supplements. The dietary composition herein can include phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and other non-toxic nutrients. The glyconutritional dietary supplement herein provides essential saccharides which are the building blocks of glycoproteins. These compositions, when administered orally or topically, have been found to improve the well being of mammals suffering from a variety of disorders.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/242,215filed Feb. 8, 1999, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference, which is a U.S. national phase filing ofInternational Application No. PCT/US97/13379 filed Aug. 4, 1997, whichclaims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/022,467 filedAug. 9, 1996, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/030,317 filed Nov. 1,1996, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/057,017 filed Jul.24, 1997, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

This application is related to prior filed application Ser. No.10/294,121 filed November 14, 2002, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, which is a divisional application ofthe above-identified application Ser. No. 09/242,215. This applicationis also related to prior filed Applications Ser. Nos. 10/797,344 and10/797,760, both filed Mar. 10, 2004, the entire disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference, which are continuationapplications of the above-identified application Ser. No. 09/242,215.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the field of dietary supplements andnutritional support for promotion and maintenance of good health. Morespecifically, the invention relates to compositions of carbohydrates adietary supplements that are essential for the production of correctlystructured and, therefore, properly functioning glycoproteins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OTHER INFORMATION

The term mucus was first used in the 1700s. By 1805, Bostok realizedthat mucus was composed of protein that differed from albumin andgelatin. In 1865, Eichwald showed that mucins contained carbohydratemoieties. In 1877, Hoppe-Seyler discovered that mucins were high insialic acid content. In 1882, Landwehr showed that plant gums, a type ofmucin, contain more than one monosaccharide. With the advent of moremodern methods, these monosaccharides were isolated and characterized.In 1888, Harmarsten showed that the saccharides in mucins were joined bya covalent bond; Harmarsten was the first to use the term“glykoproteide” (or glycoprotein in English). Fischer and Leuchsdiscovered high concentrations of mannose in mucus in 1902. Hayworth, in1939, discovered N-acetylglucosamine and Bierry discovered galactose in1930. Meyer discovered fucose in 1958 (Gottschalk, Glycoproteins, 1972).

Proteins were originally thought to be the primary “communication”molecules of the body. The biotechnology revolution began as an attemptto create new drugs based upon proteins which are made up of variouscombinations of amino acids. However, since amino acids can only bind toeach other through an amide bond, the number of secondary configurationspossible with proteins is limited. Indeed, only one secondaryconfiguration is possible per dipeptide.

However, many more functions are performed by the body than can beaccounted for by the number of molecular configurations possible withproteins. Several years ago a theoretical mathematician calculated thenumber of configurations possible with proteins and discovered thatanother mechanism, yet unknown, had to be responsible for performingmost of the communication functions of the body. It is now known thatthis mechanism involves carbohydrates.

In contrast to the simpler proteins, more molecular configurations arepossible with the more complex carbohydrate molecule, e.g., a hexose hassix chiral centers each of which has two isomeric forms and each ofwhich has a hydroxyl group as a binding site for other molecules. Thus,while only 24 oligopeptide configurations are possible with four aminoacids, more than 100,000 different oligosaccharide configurations arepossible with four sugars (Stryer et al., Biochemistry 1995; p 477).

Science has recently shown that glycoproteins play a key role in allcellular communication. Many of the cytokines, i.e. cellular messengeragents, do not function properly without an attached glycosyl moiety.The body hydrolyzes complex polysaccharides such as plant carbohydratesinto various monosugars and restructures them into oligosaccharides thatare then used by the body to build the glycoproteins required bycytokines for cellular communication and, thus, for good health.

With the advent of improved analytical techniques and more powerfulcomputers, characterization of glycoproteins increased rapidly after the1960s. By the mid 1980s, the mechanism of the orderly synthesis ofglycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus had beendetermined. The actual oligosaccharide conformations of manyglycoproteins is now known.

Increasing interest in glycobiology has been precipitated by recentfindings that cell surface carbohydrates are critically involved in celladhesion and, thus, in cell-cell interaction. Specifically, three newmechanistic concepts have been discovered. First, structural studies inglycoproteins and glycolipids have revealed the existence ofcarbohydrates which are unique to certain cell types. This concept iscrucial to understanding cell surface carbohydrates as cell-typespecific recognition molecules.

A second concept was developed from new information regarding lectins,which have sugar-binding proteins. In the 1970s it was learned thatglycoproteins were removed rapidly from the blood when their sialicacid, i.e. N-acetylneuraminic acid, containing branches were removed.Further studies revealed that this rapid clearance was caused byasialoglycoproteins binding to lectins that recognize terminalgalactose. Once animal cells were known to have lectins, a large numberof lectins were characterized, and a dedicated section in the amino acidsequence that is responsible for the carbohydrate recognition domain inthe lectins was discovered. This discovery was critical to understandingcarbohydrate-binding capability in cell-cell interactions. Thus,cellular communication was recognized at the molecular level.

The third concept resulted from studies regarding the isolation andcharacterization of the glycosyltransferases that form carbohydrates.These studies showed that carbohydrate moieties are usually built one byone, and each reaction is carried out by a glycosyltransferase thatforms only a specific linkage. The advent of molecular biology in thisfield has enabled scientists to manipulate carbohydrate expression andstudy glycoprotein function.

Based on critical advances in this field, the most recent studiesdemonstrated that oligosaccharides uniquely present in leukocytes act asligands for adhesive molecules in endothelia and platelets. When theseadhesive molecules, known as selecting, were cloned, it was discoveredthat they contained carbohydrate recognition domains. Thus, studies oncell-type specific carbohydrates and animal lectins corroborated eachother. Moreover, these studies were preceded by the findings thatlymphocyte-endothelial interaction is dependent upon carbohydrates.

Given the above, research directed toward the synthesis of drugs thatwould correct malformation of glycoproteins on cell surfaces began.After the carbohydrate ligand sialyl-Le^(x) was identified,pharmaceutical companies soon synthesized it for therapeutic purposes.This line of research has since become much easier because enzymaticsynthesis of carbohydrates is now possible thanks to the availability ofglycosyltransferases generated by cloned cDNAs (Fukuda et al.,Glycobiology, 1994).

The synthesis of all proteins and glycoproteins is controlled by somaticgenes embodied in the chromosomes of a cell. The coding informationexpressed in nucleic acids (DNA) controls all cellular functions,including general body defense, regeneration, remodeling and healing.Though DNA provides the blueprint, the cellular components cannot bebuilt correctly without the required building blocks. As discussedabove, cytokines are key components used for intracellular instructionto carry out the body's vital functions. However, many cytokines do notfunction properly without an attached glycosyl moiety.

Table 1 lists some of the known physiological functions served byglycoproteins. Table 2 lists some of the specific known functions thatthe oligosaccharide branches or chains of glycoproteins perform. TABLE 1Some known functions served by glycoproteins: Function GlycoproteinsStructural molecule Collagens Lubricant and protective Mucins agentTransport molecule Transferrin, ceruloplasmin Immunologic moleculeImmunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens Hormone Chorionicgonadotropin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Enzyme Various, e.g.,alkaline phosphatase Cell attachment- Various proteins involved incell-cell (e.g., recognition site sperm-oocyte), virus-cell,bacterium-cell, and hormone-cell interactions Interact with specificSome lectins carbohydrates

TABLE 2 Some known functions of the oligosaccharide chains ofglycoproteins: Modulate physicochemical properties, e.g., solubility,viscosity, charge, and protein denaturation Protect against proteolysisfrom within and outside the cell Affect proteolytic processing ofprecursor proteins to smaller products Are involved in biologicactivity, e.g., of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) Affect insertionof protein into membranes, intracellular protein migration, and proteinsorting and secretion Affect embryonic development and differentiationAffect metabolism May affect sites of metastases selected by cancercells

In summary, various processes of the cell are regulated or affected bycorrectly structured and, therefore, properly functioning glycoproteins.

Despite the above discussed current scientific knowledge concerning theimportance of glycoproteins to cell-cell communication and theimportance of carbohydrates in the formation of glycoproteins, anddespite the fact that diet is the source of a majority of carbohydrates,the fields of glycobiology and nutrition have never been adequatelyinvestigated together. Although current nutrition textbooks stress theimportance of essential vitamins, minerals, proteins (amino acids) andfats in great detail, sugars are currently recognized only as a sourceof energy (Shils et al., 1994)--not as substances essential toglycoprotein production for good health. For example, Shils et al.disclose that the principal sources of dietary carbohydrates are: 1)maize, nice, wheat, and potato which yield starches comprising glucose;2) sugar cane and beet sugar which yield fructose and glucose; and 3)milk which yields galactose and glucose (Shils et al., Modern Nutritionin Health and Disease, (1994)).

By way of contrast, Harper's Biochemistry (Murray et al., 1996) listseight and Principles of Biochemistry, Vol II (Zubay et al., 1995) listseleven monosaccharides commonly found in the oligosaccharide chains ofcellular glycoproteins. Thus, of the approximate 200 monosaccharidesfound in nature, these eleven are believed to be important towardmaintaining good health in mammals.

These eleven saccharides include galactose, glucose, mannose,N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine,N-acetylglucosamine and xylose (Murray et al., Harper's Biochemistry1996) as well as iduronic acid, arabinose and glucuronic acid, (Zubay etal., Principles of Biochemistry, Vol II, 1995). The structures of thesecarbohydrates are disclosed in Stryer's Biochemistry (Stryer, 1995) andthe Merck Index, 12th Edition, 1996.

Recognizing this, scientists are currently trying, as yet with limitedsuccess, to synthetically attach glycosyl moieties to cytokines andother proteins. In fact, NIH has launched a project to develop methodsto synthesize the glyco portion currently missing from their geneticallyengineered proteins. These synthetically produced cytokines have so fardemonstrated disappointing results. Many challenges remain in this area.Scientists must first learn: 1) how to synthesize the glyco portion, 2)how to attach the glyco portion to the protein, and then 3) how to getthe correct glycoproteins in the right concentrations to the rightplaces in the body so as to facilitate good health.

For centuries, people of diverse cultures from around the world haveutilized plants and herbs in the treatment of a wide variety ofdisorders in mammals. Specifically, formulations including poultices,teas, powders, pastes, extracts, plant or herb parts, plant or herbalextracts, lotions, creams, salves, troches, and others have been used.It is also now well recognized that much of the world's farm lands havebeen depleted of essential minerals required to sustain life, thusrequiring the widespread use of vitamin, mineral and dietarysupplements. A recent discovery concerns the importance of plantchemicals (phytochemicals) that are found in vine-ripened fruits andvegetables but are not found in those that are not vine-ripened. Toprovide these necessary, yet undefined, phytonutrients orphytonutritionals, as defined below, to the diet, some companies havebegun supplying dietary supplements of freeze-dried, vine-ripened fruitsand vegetables.

Nutritionists have developed hundreds of dietary supplement formulationsin an effort to provide essential dietary components and facilitate andpromote good health in mammals. However, fraudulent product claimsregarding the treatment of physiological disorders are pervasive in theindustry, and modern farming methods which focus on volume rather thannutritional value of crop production have led to crops having reduceddietary value that are missing essential dietary components.

Despite the extremely large number of dietary supplements available onstore shelves today, the dietary needs of humans are still not beingmet. Many of such commercially available dietary supplements do notappear to provide any significant nutritional benefit. The presentinventors believe such prior products suffer any one or more of thefollowing disadvantages: a) they do not include the correct nutritionalproduct(s); and b) their nutritional products are not well absorbed by aperson taking them.

Thus, while scientists are beginning to recognize that otherphytochemicals are required for good health, and others have previouslyrecognized the utility of plants and herbs in the treatment ofdisorders, none of the known art suggests or discloses the invention asclaimed herein. A need remains for non-pharmaceutical based dietarysupplement formulations which provide essential saccharides that are thebuilding blocks of glycoproteins and which promote good health inmammals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dietary supplementwhich promotes good health by providing to a mammal essentialsaccharides which are the building blocks of glycoproteins.

It has now been demonstrated herein by the present inventors thatinclusion of these essential saccharides, as by supplementation of adiet with a dietary supplement containing the same, in the diets ofmammals promotes good health. Although not intended to be limited to aparticular mechanism of action, these essential saccharides are believedto be absorbed into the mammal's body and utilized in the formation ofglycoproteins. By so providing these essential saccharides, the mammal'sbody does not have to spend energy unnecessarily catabolizing theseessential saccharides and can therefore spend its energy providing forother physiological needs such as enhancement of the immune system toward off, combat and/or ameliorate a wide range of physiologicaldisorders.

Thus, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages and drawbacks ofthe prior art. One aspect of the present invention is directed to theuse of various compositions of carbohydrates, i.e., glyconutritionals orglyconutrients, as dietary supplements which supplement a mammal's dietwith sugars essential to glycoprotein and/or glycolipid production andthereby promote good health. In one embodiment, the present invention isdirected to nutritional supplements including a defined amount of atleast one of the eleven carbohydrates that are essential for theproduction of correctly structured and, therefore, properly functioningglycoproteins and/or glycolipids in a mammal. While some of these elevensugars are readily available in common food sources, others are quiterare.

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the invention provides a dietarysupplement for providing nutritional product saccharides which areessential components of glycoproteins in a mammal, said dietarysupplement comprising a nutritionally effective amount of at least onesaccharide, in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric and derivatized orunderivatized form, selected from the group consisting of: galactose,glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose,N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, xylose, arabinose,glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, iduronic acid, arabinogalactan,acetylated mannose, glucosamine and galactosamine.

In other embodiments of the invention, the dietary supplement comprisesnutritionally effective amounts of at least two, at least three, atleast four, at least five, at least six, at least seven, at least eight,at least nine, at least ten or at least eleven saccharides, inmonomeric, oligomeric or polymeric and derivatized or underivatizedforms selected from the above listed group. Since some of thesesaccharides have ionizable groups, the invention contemplates all knownnon-toxic salt forms thereof.

The monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric and derivatized or underivatizedforms of these saccharides can be obtained from a wide variety ofsources, such as for example, gum tragacanth, guar gum, grain flour,rice flour, sugar cane, beet sugar, potato, milk, agar, algin, locustbean gum, psyllium, karaya gum, seed gums, Larch tree extract, aloe veraextract, gum ghatti, starch, cellulose, degraded cellulose, fructose,high fructose corn syrup, pectin, chitin, acacia, gum arabic, alginicacid, carrageenan, dextran, xanthan gum, chondroitin sulfate, sucrose,acetylated polymannose, maltose, glucan, lentinan, mannan, levan,hemi-cellulose, inulin, fructan, and lactose.

Other embodiments of the invention can comprise phytochemicals orphytonutritionals derived from ripened and freeze-dried fruits andvegetables, dioscorea complex, herbal extracts, herbal body-toningagents, beta sitosterol, melatonin, soy lecithin, vitamins, or minerals.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the compositions includepredigested forms of at least one of the eleven essential carbohydrates.This can include one or all of the following: 1) physical digestion suchas shearing or treatment with ultrasound, 2) chemical digestion such asenzymatic digestion, and acid or base hydrolysis, and 3) biologicaldigestion with microbes such as bacteria, fungi or molds.

In another aspect, the present invention is a dietary supplement for themodification of behavior in alcohol dependent mammals comprisingnutritionally effective amounts of the natural and/or syntheticmonomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric forms of acetylated mannose, gumghatti, gum tragacanth, glucosamine, corn starch and arabinogalactan. Ina particular embodiment, the dietary supplement will reduce the cravingfor alcohol in an alcohol dependent mammal being administered thesupplement. In another particular embodiment, the dietary supplementwill improve the overall well being of the alcohol dependent mammal byreducing at least one of depression and anger or increasing at least oneof cognition, energy and positive outlook.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is a dietary supplement forthe reduction of undesired side-effects in mammals receivingbiologically effective agents that cause said side-effects, said dietarysupplement comprising nutritionally effective amounts of the naturaland/or synthetic monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric forms ofacetylated mannose, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, glucosamine, corn starchand arabinogalactan. In a particular embodiment, the dietary supplementwill reduce the undesired side-effects of central nervous system drugs.In a more particular embodiment, the dietary supplement will reduce theundesired side-effects of methylphenidate in a mammal suffering fromattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and receiving methylphenidate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The body of a mammal hydrolyzes or metabolizes complex polysaccharides,such as plant carbohydrates, into various monosaccharides andsubsequently forms oligosaccharides therefrom that are then used by thebody to build the glycoproteins required by cytokines for cellularcommunication.

As used herein, the term “phytochemical” refers to plant synthesizedmolecules, found in food, or plant tissue in a complex organic matrix,which are minimally altered by processing from how they occur in nature.As used herein, the term “nutraceutical” refers to a non-toxic, nutrientof plant, mineral or animal origin, that has health promoting activityand that can be standardized and supplied as a dietary supplement toimprove the nutritional quality of a balanced general diet. Anutraceutical is also a glyconutrient or phytonutrient.

As used herein, the terms “glyconutritional” or “glyconutrient” refer tocomplex carbohydrates or saccharides or simple sugars that aresynthesized in nature and are necessary for the biochemical synthesis ofvarious classes of communication and signal molecules that may be freein interstitial cellular fluids, active in cell to cell communication(i.e., cytokines, growth factors, etc.), or constitute the molecularconfiguration comprising foci of highly specific molecular activity ofcell membranes (i.e., receptor sites, ion-transport channels, antigenicidentification, and the like).

As used herein, the terms “phytonutritional” or “phytonutrient” refer tonaturally synthesized molecules found only in plants that are producedto protect the plant's cells. Phytonutrients primarily have antioxidant,free-radical scavenger and vital micronutrient activity. Thesemolecules, supplied through dietary supplementation, are found in matureplant tissues, and are most concentrated in seed coats and fruitingtissues surrounding the seed. In mammalian tissues, these molecules whensupplied in the diet, are active in optimizing the biochemistry,immunology and physiology in the cellular micro-environment.

As used herein, the term “dioscorea complex” refers to an extract ofdioscorea species (Mexican yam) providing a natural pre-cursor, dietarynutrient, diosgenin, a complex, six-ring, cyclic-carbon molecule thatcontains the molecular scaffold (perhydrocyclopentanophenanthrene) uponwhich mammalian adrenal and gonadal hormones are naturally synthesized.Providing this complex molecule in the diet can support optimal hormonebalance, while maintaining normal physiological control mechanisms. Thisdietary supplement component has the potential to improve metabolicregulation of virtually every functioning cell in the body.

As used herein, the term “herbal extract” refers to phytochemicals thatare produced in plant tissues and that can be extracted by water, polar,or petroleum solvents, and that have some degree of beneficial health ortherapeutic activity. Most herbal agents can be toxic, especially whenconcentrated, but are generally safe when utilized in their moretraditional manner in teas and poultices as a “folk medicinal for thetreatment of disease and promotion of good health. As used herein, theterm “herbal body-toning agent” refers to substances that have beenobserved by the inventors to reduce and reverse elastic tissue andcollagen fiber damage caused by aging or sun-damage as evidenced by arestoration of skin turgor and elasticity which effectively reduces oreliminates wrinkles, sagging, hyperpigmentation and reversal of otherundesirable elements of lost cosmetic appearance.

The carbohydrates included in the dietary supplement of the inventionare available from a wide variety of natural and synthetic sources suchas shrubs, trees, plants, yeasts, fungi, molds, gums, resins, starch andcellulose derivatives and natural mucin sources. Specifically, some ofthe natural sources include: (a) shrub or tree exudates which containacacia, karaya, tragacanth, or ghatti; (b) marine gums which includeagar, algin, or carrageenan; (c) seed gums which include guar, locustbean, or psyllium; (d) plant extracts which contain pectins oracetylated polymannose; (e) starch and cellulose derivatives such ashetastarch, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, oxidized cellulose; and microbial gumswhich contain dextrans, xanthan. (Tyler et al., 1981) However, it shouldbe recognized that the composition of the invention is not intended tobe limited by the source from which the respective carbohydrates areobtained.

The saccharides of the invention can be found in nature as mono-, oligo-and/or polysaccharides. Thus, the compositions of the invention cancontain the saccharides in their monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymericforms. Table 3 below lists some of the known natural sources for thesaccharides of the invention. TABLE 3 Natural sources of saccharides.Source Carbohydrate Corresponding Saccharide(s) gum tragacanthgalacturonic acid, galactose, fucose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose guargum mannose and galactose (1:2 molar ratio) rice or grain flour glucoseLAREX B-1000 polyarabinogalactan (Larch tree extract) MANAPOL ®acetylated mannose based polymer (aloe vera extract) gum ghattiarabinose, galactose, mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid (10:6:2:1:2 molarratio) starch glucose pectin galacturonic acid chondroitin sulfateN-acetylgalactosamine chitin N-acetylglucosamine acacia, gum arabicarabinose, galactose, glucuronic acid alginic acid mannosyluronic acid,gulosyluronic acid carrageenan galactose, 3,6-anhydrogalactose dextranglucose xanthan gum glucose, mannose, glucuronic acid

It is well recognized in the art that the saccharides listed above withtheir corresponding source carbohydrates are present in particularamounts in nature as exemplified by the indicated molar ratios for thesaccharides in gum ghatti and guar gum. The relative amounts or ratiosof saccharides in natural carbohydrates is readily determined usingconventional extraction or analytical methods or can be obtained fromliterature sources commonly used in the art.

As used herein, the term “carbohydrate” is used interchangeably with theterms “saccharide”, “polysaccharide”, “oligosaccharide” and “sugar” thedefinitions of which are well known in the art of carbohydratechemistry. Although the compositions of the invention are intended toinclude at least one of the eleven essential saccharides, it should benoted that the saccharides can be in the form of mono-, oligo- and/orpolysaccharides, e.g. a composition containing gum tragacanth and guargum will be considered as containing galacturonic acid, fucose, xylose,arabinose, rhamnose, mannose and galactose. Therefore, by controllingthe amount of particular gums in a given dietary supplement, one cancontrol the amount of the respective saccharides in said dietarysupplement.

Although the present invention includes the above cited eleven essentialsaccharides, it should be noted that other saccharides, nutritionalcompounds or biologically active or inert compounds can be included inthe dietary supplement of the invention. Such other nutritionalcompounds include any one or more of phytonutrients, dioscorea complex,plant extracts, herbal extracts, plant parts, herbal components,vitamins or minerals. These nutritional compounds can be added to thedietary supplement of the invention, or they can be provided separatelyto a mammal being administered said dietary supplement. For example, aperson receiving the glyconutrient-containing dosage form of theinvention can also receive a phytonutrient in either the same or aseparate dosage form. Inert compounds can include flavors, fillers,lubricants, buffers, gels, binders, excipients, carriers and/or othersuch compounds that facilitate the formulation or administration of theinventive dietary supplement. All of the glyconutrient-containingdietary supplement compositions of the invention, even those containingadditional compounds, agents or other substances, can be obtaineddirectly from MANNATECH™ (Coppell, Tex.).

Dioscorea complex is available from Ayusherbs (Japan). When dioscoreacomplex is included in the dietary supplement of the invention, theratio of dioscorea complex to total essential saccharide can range fromabout 0.0001/99.9999 to about 50/50 on a weight percent basis. Inparticular embodiments, the dioscorea complex to total essentialsaccharide ratio ranges from about 0.01-70/99.99-30 or about 10-40/90-60or about 20/80.

Phytonutrients are available from a wide variety of manufacturingsources such as Cap-Tab (U.S.) or they can be added by freeze-drying andgrinding ripe fruits and/or vegetables to form a powder which can thenbe added to or provided along with the dietary supplement of theinvention. Such fruits and vegetables can be selected from all knownfruits and vegetables but, in particular exemplary embodiments, includebroccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, garlic, kale,onion, papaya, pineapple, tomato and turnip. These phytonutrients can beformulated in powder-containing caplet or capsule forms or in a base ofgelatin and natural fruit fructose, optionally containing added flavors.When a phytonutrient is included in the dietary supplement of theinvention, the ratio of total phytonutrient to total glyconutrient canrange from about 0.001/99.999 to about 99.99/0.01 on a weight percentbasis. As used herein, Phyto-1 refers to a dietary supplement comprisingGlyco-1 (see Example 5), and freeze-dried raw fruits and vegetables. Inparticular embodiments, the phytonutrient to total glyconutrient ratioranges from about 20-99/80-1 or about 50-95/50-5.

There are many plant and herbal extracts with suspected or demonstratednutritional value which can promote good health and can be incorporatedin or administered along with the dietary supplement of the invention.Such plant and herbal extracts can be obtained according to well knownprocedures for the extraction of substances, compounds or agents fromplants or herbs. In particular embodiments, the dietary supplement ofthe present invention includes herbal or plant extracts of broccoli,brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, garlic, kale, onion,papaya, pineapple, tomato, asparagus, mushroom, parsnip, radish, andturnip. When a plant or herbal extract is included in the dietarysupplement of the invention, the ratio of total extract (dry solidsweight basis) to total glyconutrient can range from about0.001-75/99.999-25 to about 10-90/90-10 on a weight percent basis.

Many different types of vitamins and minerals can be included in thedietary supplement of the invention. While a few vitamins and mineralsof synthetic origin do possess nutritional value, particular embodimentsof the dietary supplement herein contain nutritionally effective amountsof non-toxic vitamins and minerals obtained predominantly from naturalsources. PROFILE™ is the tradename of a vitamin and mineral supplementused in the nutritional studies exemplified herein. This product, whichcan be obtained from MANNATECH™ (Coppell, Tex.), contains nutritionallyeffective amounts of the following vitamins and minerals: a) vitaminscomprising A, B1, B12, B2, B6, beta carotene, bioflavanoids, biotin, C,choline, D, E, folic acid, inositol, K, niacinamide, para-aminobenzoicacid, and pantothenic acid; and b) minerals comprising boron, calcium,copper, GTF chromium, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum,potassium, selenium, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. These vitamins andminerals may be provided in nutritionally acceptable non-toxic forms.

By “nutritionally effective amount” is meant that amount which willprovide a beneficial nutritional effect or response in a mammal. Forexample, as nutritional response to vitamin- and mineral-containingdietary supplements varies from mammal to mammal, it should beunderstood that nutritionally effective amounts of said vitamins andminerals will vary, respectively. Thus, while one mammal may require aparticular profile of vitamins and minerals present in defined amounts,another mammal may require the same particular profile of vitamins andminerals present in different defined amounts.

Other compounds, agents and nutrients can also be included in thedietary supplement of the invention, such as, for example, cellulose,calcium carbonate, kola nut, kola nut extract, country mallow, Atlantickelp, cayenne pepper, silica, stearic acid, amino acids, glycine,lysine, glutamic acid, arginine, calcium carbonate, orchic substances,boron citrate, chromium picolinate, essential fibers, essential oils,essential botanicals, essential enteric ecology and flora growthpromoters, essential fatty acids, live probiotic flora, proteins andenzymes.

The dietary supplement of the invention has been prepared andadministered to mammals in powdered, reconstitutable powder,liquid-solid suspension, liquid, capsule, tablet, caplet, lotion andcream dosage forms. It should be readily obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the science of formulations that the present dietary supplementcan also be formulated appropriately for irrigation, ophthalmic, otic,rectal, sublingual, transdermal, buccal, vaginal, or dermaladministration. Thus, other dosage forms such as chewable candy bar,concentrate, drops, elixir, emulsion, film, gel, granule, chewing gum,jelly, oil, paste, pastille, pellet, shampoo, rinse, soap, sponge,suppository, swab, syrup, chewable gelatin form, or chewable tablet canbe used.

Due to varying diets among people, the dietary supplement of theinvention can be administered in a wide range of dosages and formulatedin a wide range of dosage unit strengths. For example, for those peoplewho are missing from their diet nine of the eleven essentialsaccharides, a dietary supplement containing those nine saccharides innutritionally effective amounts can be formulated. As well, for thosepeople whose bioabsorption of essential saccharides is extremelyefficient, a dietary supplement formulation containing reduced amountsof essential saccharides can be prepared.

It should be noted that the dosage of the dietary supplement can alsovary according to a particular ailment or disorder that a mammal issuffering from when taking the supplement. For example, a personsuffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia, will generallyrequire a dose different than an alcoholic who is trying to discontinuealcohol consumption in order to obtain a nutritional benefit. Anappropriate dose of the dietary supplement can be readily determined bymonitoring patient response, i.e., general health, to particular dosesof the supplement. As well, when another agent such as a phytonutrient,plant extract, herbal extract and/or dioscorea complex is beingadministered to a mammal along with the present glyconutritional dietarysupplement, the appropriate doses of the supplement and each of theagents can be readily determined in a like fashion by monitoring patientresponse, i.e. general health, to particular doses of each.

It is contemplated by the invention that the dietary supplement can beadministered simultaneously or sequentially in one or a combination ofdosage forms. While it is possible and even likely that the presentdietary supplement will provide an immediate overall health benefit,such benefit may take days, weeks or months to materialize. Nonetheless,the present glyconutritional dietary supplement will provide abeneficial nutritional response in a mammal consuming it.

It is also contemplated that the dietary supplement of the invention canbe administered simultaneously or sequentially along with at least oneof a phytonutrient, an herbal extract, a plant extract, and a dioscoreacomplex. Particular embodiments wherein the dietary supplement isadministered simultaneously with at least one of a phytonutrient, anherbal extract, a plant extract, and a dioscorea complex are exemplifiedin the following examples.

For the examples herein, the dietary supplement of the invention wasadministered as a powder-containing capsule. When the dietary supplementincluded a phytonutrient, it was administered as a caplet or gelatinform. When the dietary supplement included a dioscorea complex, it wasadministered as either a capsule or caplet. When the dietary supplementincluded a phytonutrient, a dioscorea complex and an herbal extract, itwas administered as a caplet.

According to the capsule or caplet size and ingredients used in a givenstudy exemplified herein, the dietary supplement was administeredinitially as follows. The indicated doses are based upon #1 sizedcapsules and 1000-1200 mg caplets. SUPPLEMENT DOSAGE Glyco-1 2 capsules,4x/day Phyto-1 1 caplet, 4x/day Glyco-1 with dioscorea complex 1 caplet,4x/day PROFILE ™ 1 tablet, 3x/day

As the exemplified studies proceeded, the doses of the supplements weremodified according to patient response to a prior dosing regimen. Forexample, if a patient's overall health was not improving at the initialdose, the respective dose for one or more of the supplements wasmodified. It should be noted that the actual doses ultimately given toeach patient in a study varied greatly from patient to patient asnutritional response varied. Generally, the dietary supplement and eachof the other supplements was administered in the range of about 1 toabout 12 capsules (or caplets or tablets) per day.

It is well documented that biochemical individuality exists amongmammals and results in a very wide range of drug or food required toobtain a desirable health promoting effect. (Williams, R.; in NutritionAgainst Disease, 1971). The amount of the above nutraceuticals typicallyutilized initially as a dietary supplement is indicated for conditionsof compromised health. Energy level, stiffness, pain, discomfort,restful sleep, recovery from fatigue, and emotional status are used asnutritional benefit markers in determining a mammal's nutritionalresponse to the dietary supplement and in determining whether or not anincrease in dose is warranted. A reduction of health complaints or areduction or elimination of the above parameters is used as a guide forthe reduction of glyconutrient intake. Complicating factors in regard tothe amount of glyconutrients required for a benefit include thediffering quantitative needs that individual have for nutrients, thedifferences being due to genetics, biochemical balance, disease state,altered physiology, prior and current general nutrition, individualchoice and the nutrient content of food eaten by individuals. Adesirable response or improvement in health is obtained when the missingnutrient or nutrients is/are adequately supplied by the present dietarysupplement. The human body defends, repairs, regenerates, regulates, andheals itself through gene-control and nutrition provides the resourcesto accomplish these tasks. The inventive dietary supplement hereincontain glyconutrients no longer commonly found in the urban/suburbanfood chain and thus supply a more optimal source of known and yet to beidentified nutrients necessary for optimal biochemistry and physiology.

EXAMPLE 1

A suitable composition for a product according to the present inventionis as follows: tragacanth gum (100 kg), a source of galacturonic acid,galactose, fucose, xylose, arabinose and rhamnose is charged into astainless steel ribbon blender and guar gum (10 kg), a source of mannoseand galactose, is charged into the stainless steel ribbon blender. Themixture of tragacanth gum and guar gum is mixed for five (5) minutes.Then 250 grams of Aerosil 380™ (silica gel) is added to the mixture as aflowing agent and 200 kilograms of rice flour, a source of glucose, isadded as a gluten-free filler. The mixture is then agitated for fifteen(15) minutes. Finally, 100 grams of calcium stearate is added to themixture as a lubricant and the mixture is agitated for an additionalthree (3) minutes to generate a bulk powder. The powder is thenencapsulated into size 1 gelatin capsules at a fill weight of 250 mgusing a Model 8 (Elanco) capsule filling machine.

EXAMPLE 2

Another suitable composition for a product according to the presentinvention is as follows:

25 kilograms each of galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminicacid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and xyloseavailable from Florida Food Products as well as Aldrich Chemical Companyand Sigma Chemical is charged into a stainless steel ribbon blender andmixed for five (5) minutes. Then 250 grams of Aerosil 380™ (silica gel)is added to the mixture as a flowing agent and 200 kilograms of riceflour, a source of glucose, is added as a gluten-free filler. Themixture is then agitated for fifteen (15) minutes. Finally, 100 grams ofcalcium stearate is added to the mixture as a lubricant and the mixtureis agitated for an additional three (3) minutes to generate a bulkpowder. The powder is then encapsulated into size #1 gelatin capsules ata fill weight of 250 mg using a Model 8 (Elanco) capsule fillingmachine.

EXAMPLE 3

Another suitable composition for a bulk product according to the presentinvention is as follows. This formulation can be prepared according toExample 2. The weight percentages indicated are based upon the finalweight of the composition. Percent Approximate by Weight IngredientDensity 20 Gum Tragacanth T/3 0.71 g/ml 20 Gum Ghatti No. 1 0.79 g/ml 40arabinogalactan 0.20 g/ml 20 MANAPOL ® 0.12 g/ml combined ingredients0.30 g/ml

Gum tragacanth T/3 and Gum Ghatti No. 1 are both tree exudates that areavailable from AEP Colloids of Ballston Spa, New York. Arabinogalactanis obtained from the Larch tree and is available from North AmericanPharmacal of Norwalk, Conn. MANAPOL® is a freeze-dried aloe vera extractavailable from Carrington Laboratories (Irving, Tex.).

EXAMPLE 4 Standardization Assay

The following assay describes a method for standardization ofconcentrations of sugars covered by this patent.

Standards: All carbohydrate standards are available from AldrichChemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Eluent: Deionized (DI) water having a resistance greater than or equalto about 17 MOhm.

Sample preparation: 2 ml of2 N hydrofluoric acid are added to 10 mg ofsample to be analyzed in a screw-top, TEFLON lined 10 ml test tube. Thesample is then incubated at 120° C. for one hour to hydrolyze intomonosaccharides. The excess reagent is removed under a stream of air andthe sample resuspended in 1 ml of DI water.

HPLC Analysis: AOAC Official Methods of Analysis 977.20

EXAMPLE 5

The dietary supplement formulation of this example was prepared on largescale according to the above examples. This formulation, referred to asGlyco-1, includes the following ingredients in the amounts indicated.The weight percentage is based upon the weight of the final formulationcontaining all of the ingredients. Ingredient Weight Percent MANAPOL ®10 (aloe vera extract) gum ghatti 10 gum tragacanth 10 glucosamine 10corn starch 12 arabinogalactan 48

This composition was formulated into topical and oral preparations asindicated above.

EXAMPLE 6 Reduction of Medicine Induced Side Effects in the Treatment ofAttention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Manual 4^(th) Ed. (DSM-IV) definitions for ADHD. One group consisted offive children whose parents had not placed them on methylphenidate (NOMED). The other 12 children in the study were receiving one of twodifferent doses of methylphenidate: (a) six children received the normalprescribed dose (MED); and (b) six children received a reduced dose,i.e. below the normal prescribed dose (MED RED).

Assessment tools consisted of an ADHD rating scale for the DSM-IVsymptoms; 18 items were rated on a scale of 0-3 for severity. Identicalscales were constructed for the Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)symptoms and the Conduct Disorder (CD) behaviors listed in DSM-IV. Bothparents and teachers completed the above scales at each evaluation. Inaddition, parents completed a General Health Inventory for theirchildren.

After all screening assessments were completed, all subjects had theglyconutritional product Glyco-1 added to their diets (1 capsule per 10pounds of body weight for the first day and 1 capsule per 20 pounds ofbody weight for the remainder of the study). At week two, parent andteachers completed another rating series and the MED RED group had theirmedication reduced by half as per protocol. At week three,phytonutritionals (Phyto- 1; 5 per day) were added to the dietarysupplement procedure. The additional rating series were completed atweeks five and six.

The results indicated the Glyco-1 did not provide any furtherimprovement in the ADHD symptomatology above that already obtained withthe methylphenidate alone. However, a statistically significantreduction in the side-effects caused by the methylphenidate was obtainedwhen Glyco-1 was administered to the subjects; therefore, an improvementin their overall general health was achieved.

EXAMPLE 7 Treatment of Alcoholics with Glyco- 1

Glyco-1 capsules used in this study were prepared according to Example6. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness ofdietary glyconutritional supplementation on the mood states and cravingfor alcohol in alcoholics. The study was conducted as follows.

Two groups of subjects were recruited from a local alcoholic supportgroup in Little Rock, Ark.: three recovering alcoholics and twopracticing alcoholics. Each met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual4^(th) Ed. (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependency. In the recoveringgroup, abstinence varied from 2.5 years to six years and 11 months. Forboth groups, years of alcohol abuse ranged from 15 to 30 years and agesranged from 33 to 62.

Assessment tools consisted of a self-rating scale of craving for alcoholwhich was scored from 0 to 9 and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). ThePOMS 65 items were divided into five scales: Cognitive, Depression,Energy, Anger/Temper, and Positive Outlook. These assessments werecompleted prior to taking glyconutritionals and again at the end of thefive-week study.

Glyconutritionals were added to each subject's diet: 1 capsule per 10pounds of body weight for the first day and thereafter 1 capsule per 20pounds of body weight for the duration of the trial. No otherinterventions were introduced.

Results indicated that the mean initial alcohol craving of the fivesubjects had decreased in a statistically significant manner. Likewise,the results also indicated statistically significant improvements in theall of the measured mood states.

EXAMPLE 8 Treatment of Various Disorders with Glyconutrients

The following table summarizes the results obtained when patients wereadministered Glyco-1 either alone or in combination with one or more ofPhyto-1, Glyco-1 with dioscorea and PROFILE™. Each patient wasadministered an initial dose Glyco-1 and any one or more of therespective supplements in the dosages indicated as follows: SUPPLEMENTDOSAGE Glyco-1 (A) 2 capsules, 4x/day Phyto-1 (B) 1 caplet, 4x/dayGlyco-1 with dioscorea complex (C) 1 caplet, 4x/day PROFILE ™ (D) 1tablet, 3x/day

“E” indicates a topical hydrogel formulation comprisingglyconutritionals

“F” indicates an oral dietary supplement comprising glyconutritionalsand herbal extracts.

“E” indicates a topical hydrogel formulation comprisingglyconutritionals

“F” indicates an oral dietary supplement comprising glyconutritionalsand herbal extracts.

During each study, patient progress and nutritional or overall healthresponse to administration of a given dietary supplement regimen wasmonitored. For those patients not responding well to initial doses,their dosing regimen was altered and their progress monitored again. Itshould be noted that in each of the cases, the Glyco-1 at an appropriatedose provided nutritionally effective amounts of the essentialsaccharide(s) necessary to promote good overall health in a givenpatient. That is, the glyconutrient-containing dietary supplement of theinvention is not intended or professed to cure any of the disorderslisted below. Rather, the dietary supplement provides a patient thenecessary glyconutrients to permit a patient's own body to heal itself.TABLE 4 Disorders treated by administration of glyconutrients alone orin combination with one or more of phytonutrients, dioscorea complex andvitamins and minerals. NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS DISORDER ADMINISTEREDTREATMENT RESULTS aging process or optimal A, B, C, D decreased bodyfat; increased health plan muscle mass and bone density; serumbiochemistry altered to more healthy values old stable strokes A, B, Crestored sensory and muscular control multiple sclerosis A, B, Crestored sensory and muscular control amyotrophic lateral A, B, Crestored sensory and muscular sclerosis control muscular dystrophy A, B,C restored sensory and muscular control cerebral palsy A, B, C restoredsensory and muscular control macular degeneration A, B, C sightrestorations seizures A, B, C reduction or elimination of allergies andinfections; coordination, learning, memory and appearance improvementsDown's Syndrome A, B, C reduction or elimination of allergies &infections; coordination, learning, memory and appearance improvementssystemic combined A, B, C antibody and T-cell function immune deficiencyrestoration syndrome Tay-Sachs A, B, C restoration of lost functionsretinitis pigmentosis A, B, C sight restoration color blindness A, B, Ccan see color Huntington's chorea A, B, C restoration or improvement oflost functions Alzheimer's A, B, C restoration or improvement of lostfunctions Parkinson's A, B, C restoration or improvement of lostfunctions inflammatory A, B, C restoration or improvement ofpolyneuropathy lost functions Closed head traumatic A, B, C restorationor improvement of syndromes lost functions spinal cord injury A, B, Crestoration or improvement of lost functions ulcerative colitis A, B, Chealed ulcers Crohn's disease A, B, C healed ulcers schizophrenia A, B,C improvements in functions depression A, B, C improvements in functionsanxiety reactions A, B, C improvements in functions compulsive disordersA, B, C improvements in functions nervous tics A, B, C improvements infunctions restless leg syndrome A, B, C improvements in functionsTourette's syndrome A, B, C improvements in functions autism A, B, Cimprovements in functions Wegener's granulomatosis A, B, C restorationof tissue Lupus E. A, B healing of lesions Rheumatoid arthritis A, Brelief of symptoms thyroiditis A, B normalization of antinuclearantibodies myesthenia gravis A, B normalization of antinuclearantibodies diabetes mellitus A, B normalization of glucose and Hgb AIC;restoration of renal functions; healing of ulcers, elimination ofinfection; elevated lipids normalize; reduced insulin and glycomedsosteoporosis A, B reduced pain increased bone density alcoholism Areduction in craving cocaine A reduction in craving atherosclerosis A, Breduced total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and increased HDL;improved patency of vessels and arrhythmia idiopathic myocarditis A, Bincreased ejection function; (presumed viral origin) restoration ofheart size; increased Coxsackievirus antibody levels; and reversal ofheart failure rheumatoid arthritis A, B elimination of pain, stiffness,fever, and swelling; restoration of scope of motion, strength andendurance degenerative arthritis A, B elimination of pain, stiffness,fever, and swelling; restoration of scope of motion, strength andendurance traumatic arthritis A, B elimination of pain, stiffness,fever, and swelling; restoration of scope of motion, strength andendurance juvenile arthritis A, B elimination of pain, stiffness, fever,and swelling; restoration of scope of motion, strength and enduranceasthma A elimination of shortness of breath and wheezing and improvementof pulmonary function allergy-nasal, eyes, hay A elimination of itching,fever swelling, rash discomfort silicon breast implant A, B, C reductionor elimination of symptoms environmental toxin A, B, C reduction orelimination of syndrome symptoms agent orange A, B, C reduction orelimination of symptoms Gulf War syndrome A, B, C reduction orelimination of symptoms Hepatitis B & C A, C, D normalization of liverenzymes and symptoms influenza virus A, C, D prevention or amelioration;improvement of symptoms common cold A, C, D prevention or amelioration;improvement of symptoms AIDS A, C, D elimination of symptoms; m- RNA ofHIV-1 is undetected; restored immune function herpes A, C, D eliminationof infestations warts A, C, D elimination of infestations humanpapillovirus A, C, D elimination of infestations otitis media (chronicor A, C, D elimination of symptoms and persistent) need for antibioticsleukemia A, B, C, D correction of altered chromosomes lymphomas A, B, C,D normalization of tissue biopsies sarcomas (astrocytomas) A, B, C, Dnormalization of tissue biopsies adenocarcinomas such as A, B, C, Delimination of metastasis and breast, prostate, ovarian, shrinkage ofmass to gastrointestinal and lung undetectable level profoundintroversion and A, B, C, D restoration of psychological femaleimpotence interest and physiological sexual function in the elderlypain, ulcers and coldness A, C, E restoration to intact, painless ofextremities in diabetes, extremity and microvascular raynauds,frost-bite, circulation snake-bite and atherosclerosis sun damaged skin,age A, C, E lessening of pigmentation, damaged skin, and wrinkles, andlost elasticity radiation damaged skin and restoration of dermis andepidermis athletic performance C, F increased strength and endurance,delayed fatigue, facilitation of recovery in young and aging athletes

In summary, this invention pertains to the field of dietary supplementsand nutritional support for promotion and maintenance of optimal goodhealth. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions ofcarbohydrates as dietary supplements that are essential for theproduction of correctly structured and, therefore, properly functioningglycoproteins.

Science has recently shown that glycoproteins play a key role in allcellular communication. Many of the cytokines, i.e. cellular “words,” donot function properly without an attached glycosyl moiety. The bodyhydrolyzes complex polysaccharides such as plant carbohydrates intovarious monosugars and restructures them into oligosaccharides that arethen used by the body to build the glycoproteins required by cytokinesfor cellular communication and, thus, for good health.

This invention will correct the problem caused by modem diets consistingof highly refined foods, from which many essential ingredients have beeneliminated during processing, specifically sugars needed for correctlystructured and properly functioning glycoproteins.

The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of theinvention. Those of skill in the art should, in light of the presentdisclosure, appreciate that obvious modifications of the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed herein can be madeand executed without undue experimentation in light of the presentdisclosure. The full scope of the invention is set out in the disclosureand equivalent embodiments thereof. The specification should not beconstrued to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which thepresent invention is entitled.

As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms “a” and “an”are taken to mean “one”, “at least one” or “one or more”.

1. A dietary supplement composition, comprising: nutritionally effectiveamounts of at least six saccharides selected from the group consistingof galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, acetylated mannose,N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine,N-acetylglucosamine, arabinose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid,iduronic acid and arabinogalactan.
 2. A dietary supplement compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said saccharides are predigested from anoligomeric or polymeric form of saccharides as found in at least one ofgum tragacanth, guar gum, grain flour, rice flour, sugar cane, beetsugar, potato, milk, agar, algin, locust bean gum, psyllium, karaya gum,seed gums, Larch tree extract, aloe vera extract, gum ghatti, starch,cellulose, degraded cellulose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup,pectin, chitin, acacia, gum arabic, alginic acid, carrageenan, dextran,xanthan gum, chondroitin sulfate, sucrose, acetylated polymannose,maltose, glucan, lentinan, mannan, levan, hemi-cellulose, inulin,fructan, and lactose.
 3. A dietary supplement composition according toclaim 1, further comprising a nutritionally effective amount of betasitosterol.
 4. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 1,further comprising a nutritionally effective amount of dioscoreacomplex.
 5. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 4,wherein said composition comprises from about 50 to about 99.9999 weightpercent of said saccharides and from about 0.0001 to about 50 weightpercent of said dioscorea complex.
 6. A dietary supplement compositionaccording to claim 4, wherein said composition comprises from about 30to about 99.99 weight percent of said saccharides and from about 0.01 toabout 70 weight percent of said dioscorea complex.
 7. A dietarysupplement composition according to claim 4, wherein said compositioncomprises from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of said saccharidesand from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of said dioscorea complex.8. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 4, wherein saidcomposition comprises about 80 weight percent of said saccharides andabout 20 weight percent of said dioscorea complex.
 9. A dietarysupplement composition according to claim 1, further comprising anutritionally effective amount of a blend of freeze-dried and powderedraw fruits and vegetables.
 10. A dietary supplement compositionaccording to claim 9, wherein said blend of freeze-dried and powderedraw fruits and vegetables comprises: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage,carrot, cauliflower, garlic, kale, onion, papaya, pineapple, tomato andturnip.
 11. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 9,wherein said composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 99.999weight percent of said saccharides and from about 0.001 to about 99.99weight percent of said blend of freeze-dried and powdered raw fruits andvegetables.
 12. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 9,wherein said composition comprises from about 1 to about 80 weightpercent of said saccharides and from about 20 to about 99 weight percentof said blend of freeze-dried and powdered raw fruits and vegetables.13. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 9, wherein saidcomposition comprises from about 5 to about 50 weight percent of saidsaccharides and from about 50 to about 95 weight percent of said blendof freeze-dried and powdered raw fruits and vegetables.
 14. A dietarysupplement composition according to claim 1, further comprisingnutritionally effective amounts of xanthines and herbal body-toningagents.
 15. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 1,further comprising a nutritionally effective amount of melatonin.
 16. Adietary supplement composition according to claim 1, further comprisingan effective amount of a saccharide bioabsorption aid.
 17. A dietarysupplement composition according to claim 16, wherein said bioabsorptionaid comprises soy lecithin.
 18. A dietary supplement compositionaccording to claim 1, further comprising nutritionally effective amountsof a dioscorea complex and a blend of freeze-dried and powdered rawfruits and vegetables.
 19. A dietary supplement composition according toclaim 1, further comprising nutritionally effective amounts of non-toxicvitamins and minerals.
 20. A dietary supplement composition according toclaim 19, wherein: said vitamins are selected from the group consistingof A, B1, B12, B2, B6, beta carotene, bioflavanoids, biotin, C, choline,D, E, folic acid, inositol, K, niacinamide, para-aminobenzoic acid,pantothenic acid and combinations thereof; and said minerals areselected from the group consisting of boron, calcium, copper, GTFchromium, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium,selenium, silicon, vanadium, zinc and combinations thereof.
 21. Adietary supplement composition according to claim 1, further comprisingan herbal extract or plant extract of broccoli, brussel sprouts,cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, garlic, kale, onion, papaya, pineapple,tomato, asparagus, mushroom, parsnip, radish and turnip.
 22. A dietarysupplement composition according to claim 21, wherein said compositioncomprises from about 25 to about 99.999 weight percent of saidsaccharides and from about 0.001 to about 75 weight percent of saidherbal or plant extract.
 23. A dietary supplement composition accordingto claim 21, wherein said composition comprises from about 10 to about90 weight percent of said saccharides and from about 10 to about 90weight percent of said herbal or plant extract.
 24. A dietary supplementcomposition, comprising: a nutritionally effective amount of acetylatedmannose and at least five saccharides selected from the group consistingof galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose,N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, arabinose, glucuronic acid,galacturonic acid, iduronic acid and arabinogalactan.
 25. A dietarysupplement composition for the modification of behavior in alcoholdependent mammals, comprising nutritionally effective amounts ofacetylated mannose, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, glucosamine, corn starchand arabinogalactan.
 26. A dietary supplement composition for reducingside-effects in mammals receiving biologically effective agents thatcause such side-effects, comprising nutritionally effective amounts ofacetylated mannose, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, glucosamine, corn starchand arabinogalactan.
 27. A dietary supplement composition according toclaim 26, wherein said dietary supplement composition reduces theundesired side-effects of said agents on the central nervous system. 28.A dietary supplement composition according to claim 26, wherein saiddietary supplement composition reduces the side-effects ofmethylphenidate in a mammal suffering from attention-deficithyperactivity disorder.
 29. A dietary supplement composition forproviding essential components for glycoproteins in a mammal comprisingnutritionally effective amounts of tragacanth gum, guar gum and riceflour.
 30. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 29,wherein said composition further comprises a flowing agent and alubricant.
 31. A dietary supplement composition according to claim 29,wherein said tragacanth gum, guar gum and rice flour are present in saidcomposition in a weight ratio of 10:1:20.
 32. A dietary supplementcomposition for providing essential components for glycoproteins in amammal comprising nutritionally effective amounts of tragacanth gum, gumghatti, arabinogalactan and aloe vera extract.
 33. A dietary supplementcomposition according to claim 32, wherein said composition comprises 20percent by weight of said tragacanth gum, 20 percent by weight of saidgum ghatti, 40 percent by weight of said arabinogalactan, and 20 percentby weight of said aloe vera extract.
 34. A dietary supplementcomposition for providing essential components for glycoproteins in amammal comprising nutritionally effective amounts of aloe vera extract,gum ghatti, tragacanth gum, glucosamine, corn starch andarabinogalactan.
 35. A dietary supplement composition according to claim34, wherein said composition comprises 10 percent by weight of said aloevera extract, 10 percent by weight of said gum ghatti, 10 percent byweight of said tragacanth gum, 10 percent by weight of said glucosamine,12 percent by weight of said corn starch and 48 percent by weight ofsaid arabinogalactan.